Extraordinary Women of the East Bay: An Exhibition of Images, Artifacts and Biographies

Visitors of all ages are invited to Linden Place Mansion this March and the Edward King House in April to view a special exhibition that recognizes and celebrates sixty women who have made a difference in their communities - Barrington, Bristol, …

Visitors of all ages are invited to Linden Place Mansion this March and the Edward King House in April to view a special exhibition that recognizes and celebrates sixty women who have made a difference in their communities - Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren.

Sixteen local historical and preservation societies, museums, and libraries have contributed to the exhibit. Come learn about the lives and times of famous lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis, Queen Sachem of the Pocasset’s, Weetamoo, leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights, Julia Pell, artist and suffragette, Sarah J. Eddy, artist and founder of the Mary Tefft White Cultural Center, Happy White, among many others. Banners, with biographies and photographs, alongside artifacts and facsimiles make this a multi-media exhibit.

Linden Place Mansion, 500 Hope Street, Bristol, will host the exhibit during Women’s History Month from March 5 - March 30, with an opening reception and panel discussion on Sunday, March 3 from 2-5 PM. The Edward King House, 35 King Street, Newport, will host the exhibit from April 4-30, with an opening reception and panel discussion on Thursday, April 4, 4-8 PM. The exhibit will then move onto the Roger Williams University Library in May.

Admission to all exhibits, receptions and panel discussions are free and open to the public. This exhibition is sponsored by a generous grant from the Heritage Harbor Foundation.

Benedict has created an online database allowing visitors search for women by name, town, or field of work. The database offers short biographies and thumbnail photos of the women in the exhibit and provides the names of places which hold related collections. Heidi will add other women from the East Bay and the rest of Rhode Island to the database throughout 2019. In addition, there will an online exhibit with more detailed biographies and additional images.

For more information, please contact Heidi Benedict at 401-254-3049 or hbenedict@rwu.edu